Colors and tastes of Vietnam and Cambodia

Arrival in Hanoi. Welcome to Vietnam! Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices. Vietnam is rapidly developing but holds onto the charming traditions and culture which make it such a fascinating holiday destination. History has left its mark on Vietnam by way of Chinese, French and American influence. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel. The driving distance is approximately 45 minutes, subject to the traffic. NOTE: The standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is not included and subject to hotel availability.

As evening falls, Hanoi comes alive with a vibrant mix of ancient charm and modern energy. This evening tasting adventure takes you deep into Hanoi’s culinary heart, where family-run stalls and hidden gems serve up an enticing array of flavors. From classic favorites to unexpected delights, each dish reveals a story of tradition, community, and the rhythm of daily life. Taste the famous Grilled Pork Noodle with a variety of herbs, savoring the unique combination of flavors with each bite. Wander through hidden alleys rarely seen by tourists and discover an ancient well still used by the community today. Let’s be a bit adventurous and eat like a local by trying the delicious Ragworm Omelet at the historic city gate. Stroll through Hang Be Market, where locals shop after work for Hanoi specialties to enjoy dinner with their families. Sample small bites along the way while soaking in the bustling atmosphere. Then, join the locals on low stools to savor Dried Beef Papaya Salad with a colorful lakeside view. End your culinary journey with a taste of Hanoian ingenuity, the one-of-a-kind Egg Beer. This unforgettable experience captures the very essence of Hanoi, delicious memories are made on the street!

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Your guide will meet and transfer you from Hanoi to Halong. The driving distance is approximately 2.5 hours. Surrounding by the hundreds of limestone karst-mountains and rock formations rising dramatically from the emerald green water; Halong Bay is listed as one of the must-see places in Vietnam. Let’s spend a night on the cruise with the stunning view of this wonder. Arrive at the harbor at noon time and do the check in procedure on your boat. You will be welcome and served lunch while cruising towards the bay. This afternoon is full of activities such as cave visit, floating farm, beach relax or simply enjoy the sunbathing on the sundeck (the program is varied depending on each boat cruise). Prepare your camera for the amazing photos of the bay, hundreds of boats or sunset. Dinner will be served on the boat and enjoy the relaxing night while boat is anchoring at the quiet water area. NOTE: No Exotik guide on board with guests. There is English-speaking guide of the cruise accompanying guests while onboard.

Wake up and enjoy the fresh morning in the middle of the bay. Start your day by joining in a Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck. Rejuvenate your body and mind with the slow movement of Tai Chi. Breakfast (or brunch) will be served on the boat while cruising back to the port, passing the majestic peaks. Disembark from the cruise. NOTE: The program can be changed due to the weather condition, tide condition and local authorization. Upon disembarkation, your guide will meet you at the pier and transfer you back to Noi Bai Airport. The driving distance is approximately 2.5 hours. On arrival at Phu Bai Airport (Hue City), your guide will meet and escort you to hotel for check in. The driving distance is approximately 25 minutes.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Hue served as the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years. It houses ancient temples, imperial buildings and French-style edifices. It was established in the 17th century. Starting your day by taking a boat trip to visit one of the oldest pagodas which is called Thien Mu Pagoda. Its iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city and the temple has often been the subject of folk rhymes about Hue. Visit the Royal Imperial City, located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Approach the city past the striking Flag Tower, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, including a visit to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum. Next, visit Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, celebrated for its lavish interior where East meets West, in contrast to the traditional, nature-harmonized designs of other earlier emperors. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel and enjoy a short break. Explore slow living through slow food and an evening slow tour on cyclo. Warm up with a welcome drink and light finger food at a charming bar. Your guide will give some basic introduction about Hue cuisine, as well as teach you some survival Vietnamese before moving to a vegetarian restaurant, where you can see Buddhist traditions imprinted in Hue’s food art. Farther and farther away from the tourist quarter, in a laid-back cyclo, the night tranquility will show you the inner soul of Hue. Suddenly, the street food stalls come into sight and a crispy Hue styled pancake or lemongrass skewers will be worth a try with both your hands and your tongue. Sweet soups may not be your favorite desserts, but Hue’s varieties of colors and flavors, will be a promise of a sweet ending for a sweet night! Take it easy and make it funny. Overnight in Hue.

Your guide will meet and escort you on a 3.5 hours transfer to Hoi An via spectacular Hai Van Pass. Before heading to Hoi An, stop to explore Da Nang City. This city is home to beaches made famous by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, several quirky bridges, and the wonderful Cham Museum containing the best collection of Cham sculpture. We’ll also stop at the Marble Mountains - a group of limestone and marble hills filled with caves. Head to your hotel in Hoi An. The standard check-in time is 14:00. Early check-in is not included and subject to availability. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Pretty as a picture Hoi An! The quirky mix of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences make this ancient town a photographers’ paradise. We’ll walk through the narrow winding streets of the old quarter past ochre-hued stone houses, lantern-filled shops and colorful fishing boats. One of the most iconic sights is the Japanese Covered Bridge (under renovation). There are also ancient temples and merchant homes over 200 years old. Pause to visit a local workshop and try your hands to make a Hoi An lantern. Under the instructions of local skillful master, you will experience how to fold the silk into a colorful lantern to create a unique souvenir to take home. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Market visit and Vietnamese cooking class at Red Bridge (join-in tour) including with private return transfer with ESG to the meeting point. Your guide will escort you on a private transfer/walk (subject to hotel) to the meeting point for join-in cooking class (08:15 – 13:00). Start your day with a welcome drink at a local café. Visit Hoi An’s colorful market and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Aboard a boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the cooking studio. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The chef will first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dishes ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked. Note: Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished, relax and enjoy free use of our 20-metre swimming poo, towels and showers provided. Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingredients. Return to town where your guide will transfer you back to your hotel, approximately 13:30. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. At 08:30, your guide will meet and transfer you to Da Nang Airport for your departure flight towards Ho Chi Minh City. The driving distance is approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, your guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel. The driving distance is approximately 35 minutes. Your guide will meet and transfer you to visit Cu Chi Tunnels. These hand-dug tunnels changed the course of the Vietnam War. The well-camouflaged entrance holes lead into a network of incredibly narrow tunnels that stretch for over 200 kilometers connecting command posts, hospitals and shelters. You’ll learn about the life of the Vietcong and venture into some of the tunnels. The deadly, bamboo-spiked booby traps are another must-see.
Lunch on your own arrangement. End of tour and transfer back to hotel. Take a short rest before your Vespa tour. The darker the night gets, the more vivid Ho Chi Minh City becomes! Get ready for a fascinating ride by vintage vespa tonight to discover the busy Ho Chi Minh City after dark, together with beautiful street foods tasting in the most authentic local restaurants. Make your first stop at a small yet popular Vietnamese bread stall, line up to get fresh bread roll before heading to a local coffee shop for briefing. Keep on riding to a hidden boutique restaurant to taste some Southern Vietnamese home-cooked dishes. Then continue to zig zag through the hustle bustle streets, wander around an old apartment complex which becomes extremely lively at night with hundreds of food and drinks stalls. Take a break at an old desserts shop to try different hand-made sweet soups or grilled banana. End your night at a cozy bar room tucked away in a quiet alley, have a sip of signature cocktails and have a chat with the people here. Transfer back to your hotel. Please note: Vegetarian meal is not available. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. We’ll head out to Cholon, the historic Chinatown district to discover colonial-era gems, Chinese temples and vivacious street life (Binh Tay market, Chinese Fransisco Xavier Cathedral, Thien Hau Temple and medicine streets). Lunch at local restaurant. Back to the center and sightseeing. Ever-vibrant, ever-changing, this is the buzzing city of Ho Chi Minh City, where sleek skyscrapers loom over incense-infused temples and motorcycles rules the roads. There are classic European-style landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Opera House, the ornate City Hall and the art-deco Post Office. Reminders of a recent past can be seen in the Reunification Palace, famously stormed by tanks in 1975. End your journey with a visit at Ben Thanh Market. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh-City.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. At 8:00, your guide will meet and transfer you on a 2.5-hour drive to Cai Be town where you will embark on a boat trip to discover the Mekong Delta. Then, the rowing boat will take you deeper into the countryside on smaller canals to enjoy the peaceful time. Back to our boat to go across one of the longest rivers in the world, Mekong River, to come to An Bình Island. Travel on a handmade canal to Ut Trinh home & enjoy lunch there. After lunch, we can walk around this orchard & enjoy some cups of tea when listening to the traditional music in the ancient house. Walk in the local village to visit the local workshop to see how to make rice paper, coconut candy, pop-rice... Enjoy some sweets with a cup of hot tea. Optional biking can be made for leisure! It will be so amazing to bike on village paths to see the local daily life: orchard, school, church, pagoda, traditional houses... Visit the brick kilns where you can see how the local people create beautiful pottery from clay. The cruise will end at Vinh Long city! Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Breakfast is served at your hotel. Today is yours to enjoy at leisure until your departure flight to Siem Reap. The driving distance is approximately 35 minutes, subject to traffic. Note: The standard check-out time is 12:00. Late check-out is not included and subject to hotel availability. Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Today, visit the crown jewel of Khmer architecture, Angkor Wat. The temple complex of Angkor covers 200 acres and is probably the largest religious monument ever built on earth. Then visit Visit Angkor Thom, the fortified city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square km. Enclosed by a wall and wide moats, the city includes many of Angkor’s most popular sights. Enter by the monumental South Gate over a causeway lined on either side by statues of demons and gods, each carrying a giant naga. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, former spaces for public ceremonies, both adorned with dramatic bas reliefs. Visit the ruined Baphuon, Royal Enclosure and Phimeanakas before continuing to the mysterious Bayon Temple. In this temple, one of the most popular and compelling in Angkor, explore the galleries of beautifully preserved bas reliefs and ascend narrow stairs to reach the central sanctuary, where giant stone faces smiling enigmatically down from every angle. Watch the sun set over the Cambodian countryside from the upper terraces of an ancient Angkorian temple.

Morning departure to the temples of Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre. In the afternoon, excursion to Kampong Kleang with boat trip to the floating fishing villages.

Today, visit the Roluos group of temples and Ta Prohm, a most popular attraction of Angkor known as the “jungle temple”. Much of the jungle has not been cleared and it looks very much like the monuments would have appeared when European explorers first stumbled across them. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Thom, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Elephant Terrace.

Transfer to the airport for your flights home.